| name | research-figure-manifest |
| description | Tracks which script and run produced each manuscript figure, plus VLM validator status. Use when adding figures, auditing stale results, or long agent runs. |
Research figure manifest
Stale or unverified figures are a common source of wrong papers. Keep a simple
record linking each figure in the manuscript to how it was produced and whether
VLM audit passed.
Per-figure record
| Field | Purpose |
|---|
| Figure path | File on disk under the paper figures directory |
| Manuscript reference | Where the paper cites it (section, label name) |
| Generating script | Script that produced the file |
| Input artifacts | Data files or run directory used |
| Run id / git hash | Reproducibility |
| Sample count, seed | If applicable |
| Validator | OK / WARN / BLOCKING from plot-check, physics-check, and/or vlm-figure-audit + date |
Store in project notes or a manifest file the repo already uses.
Rules
- New figure: add a row and pass VLM before citing in the abstract or key claims.
- Regenerated figure: update run id, re-run VLM, refresh validator status.
- Removed data: remove or archive the file and update manuscript references.
Audit pass (long agent runs)
List figures referenced by the manuscript; flag missing files, missing scripts, or
BLOCKING validator status. Fix or regenerate before unrelated work.
Integration
- scientific-plotting: export rules for the asset file.
- plot-check / physics-check: validation on new artefacts (or results-check for both).
- vlm-figure-audit: print/layout; use on compiled PDF pages.
- paper-writing-workflow: compile only when on-disk figures and manifest agree (paper-writing).
